Cuba - Three Works in Progress

I pulled out these three sketches that I did in the various resorts I stayed at when I was in Cuba.

This first one was of the Breezes Veradero, which although it is a little run down on the outside, the food, the service and the entertainment are very good you can walk for miles along the beaches.

I enjoyed my time there, the diving is wonderful and we went out on the boat a number of times during our stay. 

Sharing the Sky I

The next one is of the Iberostar Daiquiri in Cayo Guillermo, which was still undergoing renovations, but the food and service were excellent.















Kite Surfers I

The last one is of the Tryp Cayo Coco, which is fairly large resort and belongs to a chain of resorts that can be found throughout the Caribbean.














Floating Islands I

I will post each of these drawings as they are completed.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and look at the artwork.

Trotting 1

Earlier this month I did a sketch of a Standardbred trotting and today I am going to work on a sketch of an Arabian trotting because there is a program on television about training Arabians.

In the program it showed a number of their horses running on pasture as well as their two stallions at liberty in their indoor arena.

















I started with the head and worked my way through the body and finally added the legs and tail.

I have the basics blocked in and I will post this sketch at a later date once more work on it has been completed.

Showcase Asphodel Norwood

It looks as though I was wrong with my prediction of snow for the Victoria Day weekend. Instead we are having a bright, sunny day with the temperatures reaching 75F (23.9C). Fortunately we have a nice breeze blowing, which is keeping the humidity away.

As usual this Holiday heralds the start of the weekend yard sales that can be found along almost every road in most of the towns.














Norwood was no different as I passed many of them on my way to the Norwood Fairgrounds to set up my display for Showcase Asphodel Norwood.

Our display area was in the front entrance called Millennium Hall, in the Asphodel Norwood Community Centre.














As usual when at the shows I worked on a number of small paintings when I wasn't talking with the public about art.

Hopefully you will be able to make it out to the show today.

Bunny and Basket 1 - A Work in Progress

I wanted to do a little more work on this painting that I have been working on for a little while (see posts on 27 May 2014, 06 January, 22 February 09 and 31 March 2016).

I wanted to define the drawing a little more and drew in a couple more pussy willows, added more detail onto the lace so when I put in the shadows the patterns will be easier to follow.

Next I added the folds into the pant legs and defined the ribbons on the legs before I finished the bindings on the top and bottom of the basket.

First I completed the pussy willows stalks using burnt sienna and French ultramarine blue and the fluffs with raw sienna and a grey of burnt sienna and French ultramarine blue.

Using a mix of cobalt blue and Antwerp blue I washed in the base colour on the sleeves and pant legs.

While that dried I darkened the shadow on the left side of the face.

I painted the ribbons by the sleeve and the legs with cadmium red, cadmium yellow and alizarin crimson.

I will post this painting at a later date once I have completed the sleeves, legs and added the highlights on the ribbons.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my artwork and I hope you will return often.

Winter Morning 1 - A Work in Progress

I pulled out this painting that I had started a while ago (see post on 29 December 2014) and wanted to do a little more work on it and possibly have it completed today.

Starting with the pine trees on the right side of the painting, I used a mixture of French ultramarine blue and raw sienna for a warm green colour and put in the furthest away trees.

I added a little more blue to the green mix and put in the layer of next closest trees.

Before I could start on the distant pine trees in the background to the left side of the painting I had unexpected company arrive.

I will post this painting once the foreground pine trees have been completed.

Clear Lake V - A Work in Progress

I did this sketch a few years ago (see post on 09 June 2013) while out canoeing on Clear Lake.

I started working on the cottage first by straightening out some of the walls, fixing the door and windows and adding a chimney.

Next I tightened up the trees on the island and made sure their reflections in the water matched.

I also added a couple of Kawartha chairs to the front of the island.

I will post this drawing at a later date once is start to apply the ink.

Barn IX - A Work in Progress

After Ron left for work this morning I pulled out this sketch of a barn that I had started a number of years ago (see post on 28 September 2013).

I started with the big maple tree to the right of the barn and continued along the right side developing the two birch trees, another maple further in the background and three young birches.

On the right side I added two more birch trees and then added grasses and growies at the bases of the trees and in front of the barn.















The barn needed to be extended to the left side so there would be room for the panels on each side of the open doorway.

I had to stop work on this drawing as a couple of friends dropped by to visit me. I will post this drawing at a later date once I have completed the barn.

Thank you for coming to look at my artwork.